KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that his country鈥檚 allies had eased sanctions on Russia and called for a renewed drive to impose further punitive measures on Moscow.
鈥淎t this time, we see too long a pause by our partners in terms of sanctions,鈥� he said in his nightly video address. 鈥淎nd very active Russian attempts to evade sanctions.鈥�
Zelensky said keeping the pressure on Moscow should focus on Russia鈥檚 energy sector, its access to microelectronics and its financial sector.
鈥淭here are three priorities: further sanctions against Russia鈥檚 energy sector, real restrictions on the supplies going to the terrorists of chips and microelectronics in general and continued blocking of Russia鈥檚 financial sector,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he world鈥檚 sanctions offensive must resume.鈥�
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko had earlier said Ukraine rejected any suggestion of easing sanctions against Russia as part of efforts to restore the UN-backed agreement to ship grain through the Black Sea.
鈥淓asing part of the sanctions regime against Russia in exchange for the resumption of the grain agreement would be a victory for Russian food blackmail and an invitation to Moscow for new waves of blackmail,鈥� Nikolenko wrote on Facebook.